Driving into Sedona from the south on the Red Rock Scenic Byway is absolutely gorgeous. We loved watching the tan desert suddenly morph into majestic red mountains. We only had two nights in the area (it was our second stop on our awesome AZ/UT road trip in April 2021) but it was a highlight of our trip!
Village of Oak Creek
We stayed in the Village of Oak Creek at the southern end of Sedona. The Holiday Inn Express was a perfect location from which we could access a variety of hikes with just a short walk to the trailheads. Parking lots filled up quickly, so walking from our hotel saved us the hassle of finding parking and made going on hikes much more convenient.
There is a vast network of trails all through the area, so it’s a great place to explore and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Bell Rock Pathway/Bell Rock Loop
Our first hike in the area on our first evening was a short one around the Bell Rock Loop. It was a great way to get a taste of the area.
Slim Shady/Yavapai/Hermit/Templeton Trails
On the Slim Shady Trail the next morning we shared the trail with lots of mountain bikers. We were amazed at how they navigated the rocky trail on their bikes! Yavapai Vista Point was a great place to stop to enjoy the beautiful views.
Then we took a combination of the Hermit Trail and the Templeton Trail back to the Bell Rock Pathway and then back through town to our hotel. All together it was a really fun hike with lots of great scenery.
Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point
We planned for the Cathedral hike at sunset and drove to the trailhead but were turned away because the parking lot was full. We hiked the Little Horse trail to Chicken Point instead. It was a gorgeous sunset hike and much less crowded than Cathedral would have been. We had a nice view of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the distance along the way, as well as views of Cathedral Rock.
Montezuma Castle
If it’s on your way into or out of Sedona, we recommend you stop at Montezuma Castle about 40 minutes away. 15-30 minutes is plenty of time to walk the trail and admire the castle and its neighboring ruins, and it’s really amazing to see the remains of the castle carved out of the cliffs above.
Sedona, Arizona is a popular destination for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers. It’s a great place for families with tons of short hikes with beautiful views. It’s definitely worth the detour off the main highway!
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